Elias Ashmole (1617)

Ashmole was a celebrated English archaeologist and antiquary who donated most of his collection of artifacts and curiosities to the University of Oxford in 1677 to create the Ashmolean Museum, the first such public institution in England. Though most of Ashmole’s acquisitions focused on the study of nature, he was also interested in mysticism and was a student of astrology and alchemy. What anagrammatic pseudonym did Ashmole use to publish an anthology of alchemical writings in 1650? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Laurence Olivier (1907)

One of the most revered actors of the 20th century, Olivier took on more than 120 stage roles and appeared in nearly 60 films over the course of an award-winning career spanning more than six decades. A versatile performer, he earned accolades for his portrayals of Shakespearean characters, like Henry V and Hamlet, as well as for his performances in modern dramas. He won four Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globes, and five Emmys, and was the first actor to receive what honor? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Albrecht Dürer (1471)

Dürer, a painter and printmaker, was one of the most influential artists of the German school as well as the first German artist to achieve substantial international renown. He was a superb draftsman and painter but is perhaps best known for the vast number of woodcuts and engravings he made throughout his career, which combine meticulous craftsmanship with rich detail. His work has influenced generations of printmakers and draftsmen. What are some of his most famous pieces? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Honoré de Balzac (1799)

Ranking among the great masters of the novel, Balzac was a French writer regarded as one of the founders of realism in literature. His magnum opus was a vast collection of novels and short stories collectively titled La Comédie humaineThe Human Comedy—which presents a panorama of the French society of his time, picturing in precise detail characters from every class and every profession. Balzac’s work habits are legendary. How long was he said to write during a single stretch? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Pol Pot (1925)

One of the most infamous leaders in modern history, Pot became a Khmer Communist leader in Cambodia in the 1960s. In 1975, he proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Kampuchea and served as its premier. During his rule, one to two million people out of a total population of seven million died as a result of his ruthless pursuit of a return to “year zero” and the creation of an ethnically pure, agrarian, communist state. What happened to Pot after his rule was ended by Vietnamese invasion in 1979? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Omar Khayyám (1048)

Khayyám was a Persian poet, mathematician, and astronomer. The details of his life are mostly conjectural, but he is known to have been a celebrated mathematician of his time. Yet, he is now best known for his Rubaiyat, a collection of epigrammatic verse quatrains whose hedonism often masks serious metaphysical reflections. It was little known in Europe until Edward FitzGerald’s loose English translations were published in 1859. What does the name Khayyám indicate about his lineage? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Maureen O’Sullivan (1911)

Maureen O’Sullivan’s acting career began when she met motion picture director Frank Borzage, who suggested that she take a screen test and then cast her in the film Song o’ My Heart. She went on to appear in a number of movies for several studios before being chosen to play Tarzan’s love interest, Jane Parker, in Tarzan the Ape Man and five other Tarzan features. In what other film did she play a character named Jane? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Tamara de Lempicka (1898)

Tamara de Lempicka was a Polish painter whose bold artistic style epitomized the cool, sensual side of the Art Deco movement. Following her first major show, in Milan, Italy, de Lempicka emerged as the most fashionable portrait painter of her generation among the aristocracy, painting duchesses and grand dukes and socialites. She relocated to the US in 1939 and soon became a favorite artist of Hollywood’s stars. What current world-famous pop star is an avid collector of de Lempicka’s work? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Wavy Gravy (1936)

Born Hugh Romney, Wavy Gravy is a peace activist known for his whimsical hippie appearance and clown persona. After being repeatedly arrested at political demonstrations, he adopted his flamboyant look in the hopes that police officers would be less likely to arrest someone dressed as a clown. Gravy was a master of ceremonies during the first Woodstock Festival and the two subsequent events and is now the official clown of the Grateful Dead. Who gave him his unusual moniker? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Charles Peace (1832)

Peace was a notorious English burglar and murderer whose life spawned many romanticized works of fiction, including dozens of novels and films and even a comic strip. After stints in prison and a criminal career spanning decades, Peace was finally captured and imprisoned on charges of burglary and the attempted murder of a police officer. He was then tried for a past murder and was sentenced to death. Peace is mentioned by name in what Sherlock Holmes short story? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary